Summary:
This analysis examines two elementary schools in Dade City, FL (zip code 33523), both part of the Pasco school district, serving grades PK-5 in a high-poverty area where over 75% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Rodney B. Cox Elementary School stands out for its dramatic academic turnaround and high per-student spending of $18,026. After hitting a low point at the 4th percentile in 2023-2024, it rebounded to the 21st percentile in 2025-2026, showing improvement in 6 out of 7 tested areas. Its 4th Grade Math proficiency of 70% outperforms both district and state averages, and it boasts a lower student-teacher ratio of 15.9:1. In contrast, Lacoochee Elementary School has declined from the 33rd percentile to the 12th percentile over the same period, despite serving a nearly identical demographic. Lacoochee operates more cost-efficiently with $13,724 per student and a higher 19.7:1 student-teacher ratio, but this model has not yielded positive results.
Both schools face a critical challenge with chronic absenteeism, with rates near 38%—significantly worse than district (29.2%) and state (31.4%) averages. Academic proficiency remains low overall, particularly in English Language Arts, where 3rd Grade ELA at Cox is just 32% and 4th Grade ELA at Lacoochee is 34%, both far below district norms. The key takeaway is that these two schools, despite similar poverty levels, are on opposite trajectories: Cox is recovering from a crisis through higher investment, while Lacoochee is declining from a stronger starting point. The bright spot is Cox's 4th Grade Math performance, which suggests a targeted intervention that could be replicated elsewhere.
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